Immune responses to tumour antigens: implications for antigen specific immunotherapy of cancer

摘要

Tumour associated antigens recognised by cellular or humoral effectors of the im- mune system are potential targets for antigen specific cancer immunotherapy. Different categories of cancer antigens Have been identified that induce cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses in vitro And in vivo, namely: (1) "cancer testis" (CT) antigens, expressed in different tu- morus and normal testis, (2) melanocyte differentiation antigens, (3) point muta- tions of normal genes, (4) self antigens that are overexpressed in malignant tis- sues, and (5) viral antigens.